VNN Editorial - Mercy Of Guru

EDITORIAL January 26, 2006 VNN8903 About the Author

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Mercy Of Guru

BY SRILA BHAKTI BALLABH TIRTHA GOSWAMI MAHARAJA

EDITORIAL, Jan 26 (VNN) — Q&A from last video conference with Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj.

Question:

We need the mercy of Guru but it seems we won't progress if we won't take that mercy, e.g. if you think of the mercy as a hook coming down then we must take hold of it if we want to be rescued. If we won't hold on to it we will go nowhere. So, is it always a matter of our own choice and desire?

Answer:

Attachment to non-eternal things is the cause of bondage. Love for Eternal Supreme Lord, Who is All-Existence, All-Knowledge and All-Bliss, is the cause of emancipation. Conditioned souls are drowned in the deep ocean (deepest pit from which their release is almost impossible). Supreme Lord, out of compassion, descends into that deep ocean or pit to rescue the fallen souls, taking various Forms. These Forms are compared with hooks.

For instance, if a bucket falls into a deep well, to lift the bucket a bunch of hooks tightly fastened with a strong rope is dropped into the well and by turning the rope all through the area of well underneath, one of the hooks will catch hold of the bucket. By drawing up the rope, the bucket will be lifted from the deep well. As every conscious being has got relative independence of will and taste, he can catch hold of any Form of God tightly, as per his liking. Then he will be taken out from the ocean.

So, God descends into this world in so many Forms (Fish, Tortoise, Boar, Nrisinghadeva, Vamana etc.) to attract the conditioned souls- whomever they like, they can catch hold of. Catching should be sincere and steadfast. Like God, realized personal associates of God also may descend to rescue the fallen souls.

Instance of fastening of Gopal by mother Yashoda will be a satisfactory reply: Mother Yashoda measuring the belly of the little child, brought the rope but could not fasten, as the rope was less by two fingers. She was too much surprised. She brought another rope and joined it with the first rope and again it was two fingers less. Rope was made very long (say more than a mile), yet she could not fasten the child. Everytime it was two fingers less. As Supreme Lord in that little child Form is Infinite, infinite miles of rope will not be able to fasten the child. This is His inconceivable power. Within Finite Form, He is Infinite. Rabindranath Tagore also said, 'SimŠra madhye asim tumi'- God is Infinite within limited Form. Yashoda was too much tired. All the Gopis were laughing from a distance. Yet Yashoda did not stop trying to fasten. Ultimately Supreme Lord being attracted by the tremendous sweet affection of mother, accepted fastening. Then the Child could be tied by the first rope. Everytime two fingers less indicates that to get God- God's grace as well as sincere steadfast endeavour of service to attract the grace of God, both are essential. When these two coincide, the desired fruit will be achieved.

Bhagavan said to Uddhav-
bhaktyŠham ekayŠ grŠhyah sraddhayŠtmŠ priyah satŠm
bhaktih punŠti man-ni–šhŠ sva-pŠkŠn api sambhavŠt
Srimad Bhagavatam 11.14.21

I, being Supreme Lord residing in the hearts of all and really beloved of all, can be realizable by sadhus by the manifestation of exclusive devotion due to the influence of faith in Me. One-pointed exclusive devotion can even sanctify one of the lowest caste.

Srila Rupa Goswami has also referred to in his writing 'Padyavali' this verse written by a South-Indian versifier-
vyŠdhasyŠcara‘aˆ dhruvasya ca vayo vidyŠ gajendrasya kŠ kubjŠyŠ kim u nŠma rŸpam adhikaˆ kiˆ tat sudŠmno dhanam vaˆsa ko vidurasya yŠdava-pater ugrasya kim pauru–aˆ bhaktyŠ tu–yati kevalaˆ na ca gu‘air bhakti-priyo mŠdhava

Hunter's previous killing nature, Dhruva's young age, Gajendra's (leader of wild elephants) want of education, Kubja's (hunch-backed woman) lack of beauty, Sudama's extreme poverty, Vidur's socially depressed lineage, Ugrasen's (king of Yadavas) lack of virility, were not taken into consideration. They all propitiated God by pure devotion. Madhav (an appellation of Supreme Lord) is gratified only by bhakti and not by worldly qualifications or merits.

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